Electrically operated valve



Patented Ma} 26, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN R. BOYLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE Application filed March 24, 1930. Serial No. 438,268.

The present invention relates to electrically operated valves, and is concerned more particularly with such valves which utilize the reciprocation of a solenoid armature to unseat a'pilot valve and open a by-pass for creating an unbalanced pressure condition with respect to the main valve, which condition either effects or facilitates the opening of the main valve. In this type of valve structure the solenoid armature can be arranged to move in a hermetically sealed tube and the necessity of transmitting the normal valve operating motion through a packed joint is avoided, with the result that the entire valve structure can be hermetically sealed, there are no stufling boxeswith consequent friction and leakage, and the valve can be operated with only a small consumption of current.

Such type of valve has wide spread utility in a large number of fields. For example, it can be employed on the suction or frost side of a refrigerating coil where the low temperature of the refrigerant would congeal the lubricated packing of an ordinary valve, and it can also be used in various other relations in arefrigerating system where its hermetically sealed characteristic is of decided value for preventing all possibility of leakage of the refrigerant. Moreover, such type of valve can be used to advantage as an unloading valve in shunt between the inletand outlet sides of a compressor, and may be used in various other situations, particularly for controlling steam or other fluids operating under high pressures.

The general object of the invention is to improve upon valves of this type to make their operation and durability more efficient, reliable and satisfactory. Other more specific objects of the invention are: to provide a construction which eliminates the vibration and noise usually present in these valves when operated from alternating current, such vibration and noise being generally caused by the solenoid armature vibrating in 'synchro nism withthe current; to provide a construc tion in which the solenoid armature operates to mechanically lift and hold the main valve element away from its valve seat, independp'rises a valve body or casing 11 having a ently of the existence of any pressure in the valve housing, after the by-pass pilot valve has been opened; to provide a construction in which a tapered relation exists between the main valve element and the upper cham-- her in which said valve element moves'in being lifted from the valve seat, this tapered relation preventing any possibility of sticking or binding of the main valve element ;to provide a construction which may have the additional function of a safety valve for automatically releasing excessive pressures when the valve is closed ;'and, to provide a construction in which the valve element may be positively retained in closed position by a manual operation so that the device can function as a stop valve, being held against openingfeven against a back pressure. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating such embodiment: I

Figure 1 is a vertical axial sectional view 7 through the valve structure; 5

Figure 2is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the main valve element, illustrating the latter modified to have the additional function of a safety valve and also permitting said main valve element to be positively, held closed against back pressure;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating another 'modified construction which may also have the positive closure feature incorporated therein, and

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views showing how a shading coil may be embodied in the solenoid'armature, ifdesired.

Referring first to Figure 1, the device comfluid passageway therethrough communieating at one end'with the inlet connection 12 and at the other end with the outlet connection 13. These connections may be flanged or threaded for establishingeither type of coupling with the sections of the fluid conduit in which the valve is interposed; Within the valve body is the usual horizontal web or diaphragm portion 14 hav-' ing the valve port 15 therein which estab slight downwardly converging taper which extends downto the point where the lower end of said chamber communicates with the inlet passageway 16. The upper portion of the main valve element, normally reposing in the chamber 19, is also formed with a corresponding taper 18. If desired, annular grooves 21 may be formed in this upper tapered portion 18'. When the valve element is in its lower seated position the two tapers 18' and 19 are in very close proximity to each other, but a very slight clearance is maintained therebetween to form an annular passage 22 through which a restricted leakage of the fluid can occur u into the chamber area 19 above the top -0 the valve element. It will be evident that if the fluid pressure leaking up through this passageway 22 is allowed to accumulate above the piston valve 18 it will effectively hold said valve to its seat 15. t

The opening of the valve is effected by relieving the accumulation of pressure in the pressure chamber 19 down into the outlet passageway 17, such pressure relief being at a higher rate than the rate of leakage through the restricted passageway 22, whereby the inlet pressure acting upwardly on the enlarged upper end 18' of the main valve tends to raise said valve to open-position. This pressure relief is effected by a by-pass' and cooperating pilot valve which establish a shunt fromthe upper end of the chamberlS'to the outlet passageway 17. In the preferred embodiment herein shown, this by-pass and pilot valve are embodied within the body of the main valve 18, although I wish it to be understood that numerous features of my invention may be utilized in structures in which said by-pass and pilot valve are not carried by the main valve element. The by-pass is indicated at 23, consisting of a relatively small axial passageway opening down through the lower end ofthe main valve body 18. This passageway communicates with successively enlarging counterbores, the lower one of which forms w'guidew-ay for the pilot valve 24 which loosely engages therein, and the upper one of which is threaded for receiving a threaded cap 25. screwing into the pilot valve 24 is a rod 26 which extends u wardly through a bore'25' in the cap 25, t is bore being smaller than the diameter of thepilot valve so that in the first upward movement of the rod 26 the pilot-valve will be lifted from its seat on the by-pass 23 and further upward movement will cause said pilot valve to engage the underside of the cap 25 for lifting the entire valve assembly as a unit upwardly away from the main valve seat 15.

The upper end of the pilot valve 24 may tween said lugs, whenthe pilot valve is pulling upwardly against the cap; or, as shown in Figure 3,'one or more passageways 30' may be extended down through the cap 25 at points spaced outwardly of the head end of the'pilot valve 24.

The rod 26 has any suitable connection, as through the hook and loop joint illustrated at 27, with-a solenoid armature 28 which is adapted to move endwise in a guide tube 29.

i The lower portion of said tube 29 is hermetically sealed in a bonnet or top closure member 31 which is tightly secured to the upper portion of the valve housing 11 over the chamber 19.- Surrounding the tube or sleeve 29, above the bonnet member 31, is the electromagnetic structure comprising the winding 32 and the magnetic field elements 33.-

The field structure is preferably laminated,

comprising. groups of C-shaped laminations 33 with the inner ends of their legs disposed in proximity to or in contact with the guide sleeve 29. A large number of these laminated groups may be disposed at different angular points about the sleeve, or only two of these groups may be dis osed at diametrically opposite sides thereo ,the latter arrangement being shown. Fixedly mounted in the upper portion of the tube 29, and disposed substantially in the horizontal plane of the upper legs of the magnet laminations 33, is a lami- -.nated core member 34, which extends the metallic magnetic circuit down into the sleeve toward the armature 28. This core plug 34 may be employed to hermetically seal the upper portion of the tube 29, or a closure member 35 maybe welded, brazed or otherwise secured in the, upper end of the tube to seal the same. Said tube is preferably of nonmagnetic metal characterized by a high electrical resistance and high heat conductivity, as I shall presently describe. The armature 28 has a free sliding fit in said tube.

-When the device is deenergized the parts occupy the positions illustrated in Figure 1. Any fluid pressure prevailing in theinlet passageway 16 is transferred through the restricted annular passageway 22 and is effective on the upper end of the main valve element 18 for holding the latter to its seat 15 under pressure. This same pressure of the fluid holds the pilot valve 24 closed against the endof the by-pass 2 3. When the winding 32 is energized the armature 28 is drawn upwardly to dispose more of its length within the field of the winding. The initial upward movement unseats the pilot valve 24, it being evident that only a small operating energy is required to lift said valve from the by-pass 23 even against very high fluid pressure, be cause of the relatively small area of said bypass. However, the area of said by-pass is larger than the effective area of the leakage passageway 22 so that the pressure existing.

above the main valve element 18 is quickly reduced or released, down through the bypass into the outlet passageway '17. Thereafter, the continued upward pull effective on the armature 28, together with the difference of fluid pressures above and below the tapered enlarged portion 18', causes the valve 18 to be raised into the upper portion of the chamber 19. thereby opening the valve port 15 to the fullest extent. As long as the winding 32 remains energized the valve 18 will be lield in its raised position, with the port 15 Wide open. It will be noted that this direct mechanical lift of'the valve by the solenoid armature 28 will result in the valve being raised to a position entirely clear of the valve seat, and held in that position during the entire energized interval of the valve, irrespective of whether or not a fluid pressure is actually prevailing in the inlet passageway 16. Thus, the valve does not float or ride onthe fluid pressure passing through the valve port 15, nor' will the valve vibrate or oscillate with pressure fluctuations of the fluid passing through the port. As soon as the winding 32 is deenergized the armature 28 drops and seats the pilot valve 24 against the upper end of the by-pass passageway 23, the weight of the armature 28 being thereafter imposed directly on the valve 18 tending to force. it to closed position. With the closing of the by-pass 23, pressure rapidly builds up in the chamber 19', and this pressure is also effective for quickly forcing the valve down into engagement with the seat of the port 15.

By virtue of the taper 18' on the upper portion of the valve 18 and the taper 19. in the chamber 19 the restricted leakage passageway 22 may be accurately machined and maintained when the valve is in closed position, but, at the same time, there is no possibility of upward movement of the valve being restricted or prevented by binding, because the tapered relation results in the space between the valve and the walls. of the chamber 19 increasing as the valve moves upammonifim hydroxide, I methal chloride or carbon dioxide.

wardly. 'While it is preferable to obtaiin resistance, high tensile strength and good thermal conductivity, whereby saidtube will be capable of withstanding the fluid pressures prevailing therein above and below the solenoid armature 28 and whereby said tube will assist in minimizing the heating consequent upon long energized'intervals of the winding 32. In addition, when the valve is used in a refrigerating system, this tube should be non-corrosive and not attacked by any of the common refrigerants such as ammonia, sulphur dioxide, I have found that all of these requirements may be met by constructing this tube of an alloy having the following'approximate composition:

In Figure 2 I have illustrated howa safety valve function can be incorporated in the present valve structure. The valve body 18 has the same general relation to the valve port 15 and chamber 19, but mounted within the body of the valve 18 is a spring pressed valve 38 which has thedual function of a.

pilot valve for opening the by-pass through the main valve, and also of a safety valve for preventing the pressure in the inlet pas sageway 16 from rising above a predetermined maximum. This secondary valve 38 is disposed in an axial bore 39 in the'body of the main valve, the lower end of said bore being threaded to receive a plug 41. This plug is apertured to allow the valved fluid to pass therethrough, and bearing on said plug is a compresslon spring 42 whichnormally tends to move the secondary valve 38 upwardly to closed position, the spring pressure tending to so move said valve being adjustable by screwing the plug member 41 up- Wardly or downwardly in the bore 39. Screwing into the threaded upper end of said bore is a valve cage or bushing 43 having a passageway 44 in its upper end, a tapered valve seat 45 coextensive with said passageway, and an enlarged bore 46 extending down from said valve seat. The body of the secondary valve 38 fits loosely in the bore 46 and has a tapered upper shoulder for engaging with the valve seat 45. A stem portion shoulder through the passageway 44, in

spaced relation thereto, and projects from the top of the bushing 43. A pair of oppo- 1 sitely disposed bell-crank levers 48 are pivotally mounted at 49 on the top of the bushing 43, and these levers comprise inwardly extending armshaving rounded bottom surfaces, as indicated at 51, which are adapted to bear against the upper end of the pro-' jccting stem 47. Links 52 are pivotally connected with the outer arms of said levers and with a lug or eye 53 bn the armature 28.

be transmitted to the valve from the arma- Normally the valve-38 is held /by spring pressure up'agai-nst the valve seat 45, thereby closin the b'y-pass 44 within the main valve. pon the energization of the solenoid' winding the upward movement of the armature 28 rocks the two bell crank levers 48, thereby thrusting the secondary valve 38 downwardly and opening the by-pass foreffecting the opening of the main" valve, substantially in the same manner described'of the preceding embodiment. The relativelysmall area of the by-pass44 enables the armaturejgo o tremely hig pen the valve 38 even against expressures. With regard to the safety valve function, it will be evident that.

substantially the same pressure will prevail 40 in the upper part of the chamber 19 as in the inlet passageway 16, and if this pressure ex 'ceeds a predetermined maximum, as determined by the pressure established in the spring 42, the valve 38 is forced downwardly away from the seat 45, thereby allowing this excessive pressure ,to be shunted through the main valve. Such automatic opening of the by ass may result in the main valve '18 also lifting slightly to release this excessive'pi'es sure.

In Figu cdnstruction wherein provision is made to avoidthe vibratory noise of the solenoid a'rmature when the, solenoid/is energized by alternating current, and wherein provision is also made for manually closing the main valve and retaining it in closed position. In this embodiment the normally stationary core 34 extends down to have its lower end terQ Ininate in proximity to the bottom legs of the magnetic fieldmembers 33. The armature 28 is attracted up against the end of this core, in which position the armature lies substantially in the plane of these bottom legs. Said armature is of short length comtive ma valve is a ch'eck valve in that direction. Wit

pared to the transverse dimension of itsugper face, so that'the magnetic attraction hol ing this upper face against the end of the' core 34' will exceed the force tending to vibrate the armature laterally. That? is to say the area of that ortionof the armature contacting with t e core is so proportioned' relative to the length of that ortionofi the armature lyin within the e ecetic field threading the lower legs of the eld elements 33 that this portion of the alternat-in magnetic field, which would otherwise ten to vibrate the armature lat-' erally, doesnot have sufiicient leverage on the armature and cannot exert sufiioient forte toovercome the ma etic grip of the armature on the lower on of the core 34'.

When the valve is in its normal closed p0 sition the armature 28 occupies the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 3. It will be evident that by moving the core member 34' down against the up r side of the armature, when the latter 1s in this lower po-. sition, the valve can be locked in closed position, whereby itcan be employed as a stop valve. To this end, the up or end of the core 34 ma .be connected wit a screw stem 56 thrbug the actuation of which the core may be 'raised and lowered. The lower end of gaging in a flanged cage or retaining member 58 secured to the top of the core so thatupward movement of the stem is operative to lift the-core. The threaded portion of the stem screws through a tappedlower portion of 'a plug 59 which is secured in the upper end of the tube 29. A packing 61, compressed by a gland nut 62, seals the threaded stem 56 a ainst leak e 'out through the plug 59. t will be evident that by screwing thisstem downwardly the core 34 can be brought down' against the to of the'armature 28 for positively retaimng the secondary valve and the main valve to their res ective seats, irrespective (of are presence of uidpressures on either side of these valve members, and irres ective of the energiz'ation of the solenoicf winding. in order to transmit this pressure fro the armature 28" down to the valve eleme ts the rod 26 re 3 Ihave illustrated. a modified -of the pilot valve 24 is threaded into the armature or is otherwise secured thereto for transmitting this downward pressure.

. It will be evident from the foregoing that this OSltIlVGlY'OlOSGd stop construction can also, embodied in the safety valve form illustrated in Figure 2. Downward pressure transmitted from the shiftable core 34 to the armature 28 of Fi re 2 will be transmitted down through the 'nks 52, levers 48 and stop abutments 54 for positively holding the main valve 18 to it's seat. The secondary valve 38 cannot be opened by a counter pressure in the i outlet passageway 17 because this secondar the positive closure feature incorporated in said valve device comprising an armature, Figure 2,'it will be evident that this one valve and means connecting said armature with structure will have the three fold utilities of said secondary valve and with said main an electrically operated valve, a safety valve, valve whereby said armature is operative to and'a positivestop valve. In each of the preopen said by-pass valve and to' exert mechanviously described embodiments, the armature ical force on said mainvalve for moving the 28 or 28 is preferably laminated, and because latter to open position.

of the ability of the armature and valve body 2. A valve device comprising acasing havto rotate, the laminations. of the armature ing inlet and outlet passageways,"a valve port will assume a position in parallelism with the therebetween, a main valve for closing said laminations of the field structure 33 under port, a chamber communicating with one of the influence of the magnetic field. When said passageways, said main valve being reusing the stop type of valve in a refrigerating sponsive to the pressure condition in said system there will be practicall no tendency chamber, a by-pass for placing said chamber for the packing 61 to freeze up ecause of the L in communication with the other of said pasheating action of the solenoid winding 32. sageways, a valve controlling said by-pass,

While I prefer to employ the above deelectromagnetic means for operating said scribed relation of a relatively short, wide valve device comprising a magnetic winding faced armature 28' adapted to contact with and a solenoid armature attracted thereby, a magnetic core 34, for eliminating the viand means connecting said armature with bratory noise which would otherwise be said bypass valve and with said main valve present when employing an alternating curwhereby said armature is operative to open rent, other methods of silencing the valve said by-pass valve and is also operative to may be employed in lieu thereof or'acting in exert mechanical force on said main valve to conjunction with the above described conassist. in moving the latter to open position. struction. For example, in Figures 4 and 5 3. A valve device comprising a casing hav- I have illustrated how a shading coil 65 may ing inlet and outlet passageways, a valve port be associated with the armature 28', such therebetween, a-main valve for closingsaid probably being of most benefit when operport, a pressure chamber, a restricted pasating on current of relatively low frequen y, sageway connecting said inlet passageway For mounting this shading coil, the top face with said pressure chamber, said main valve of the armature is provided with a diametbeing responsive to the pressure condition in rical slot 66 and with a semicircular groove said chamber, a by-pass for placing said pres- 67 extending around the top face thereofand sure chamber in communication with said outjoining with the ends of said slot. The shad let passageway, a by-pass valve controlling ing coil 65 is fixedly secured in this slot and said by-pass, electromagnetic means for g Sllch Shading i establishes operating said valve device comprising a other flux displaced in phase relation to the solenoid armature, and means connecting main flux (approximately in quadrat re said armature with said by-pass valve and thereto) and thereby distributes or smooths with said main valve whereby said armature out the flux impulses acting on the armature, is operative to open said by-pass valve and is w y its Vibration is mi If 1 also operative to hold said main valve awa'y sired, one or more of these shading coils may f id valve o t.

be associated with the ends ofthe legs'of the 4, A lv d vi comprising a casing havfield elements 33, acting either alone or in ing inlet and outlet passageways, avalve port conjunction with a shading coil on the armath b tw n, a main valv for closing said port, a chamber communicating with one While I e Shown What I regard to -of said passageways, said main valve being the Preferred embodiment of y invention, .responsive to' the pressure condition in said nevertheless it will be understood that suchsweh mb r, a b -pass for placing said chamber is m r y p ry and that m r in communication with the other of said pasmodifications and rearrangements y be sageways, a by-pass valve controlling said made h t d p g m the essence of by-pass, electromagnetic means for operatthe inventloliing said valve device comprising an armature,

I claim: means connecting said armature with said-by L1. A valve device comprising a casing havpass valve for moving the latter, and means g inlet and Outlet p g y a QP I for transmitting motion from said by-pass therebetween, a main valve for closing said valv to said main valve. A I port, a chamber communicating with one of 5. A valve device comprising a casing havsaid passageways, saidmain valve belng reing inlet and outlet passageways,a valvev port sponsive to the pressure condition in said therebetween, a main-valve for closing said chamber, a by-pass for placing said chamber port,'a pressure chamber, a restricted passagein communication with the other of said pasway extending from said inlet passageway to sageways, a' by-pass valve controlling said said pressure chamber, said main valve being 45 by-pass, electromagnetic means for operating responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for placing said pressure chamber in communication with said outlet passageway, a by-pass valve operating within said main valve and controlling said bypass, electromagnetic means for operating said valve device comprising an armature, means connecting said armature with said bypass valve andoperative to move the latter to open position, and means for transmitting motion from said by-pass valve to said main Valve whereby said armature is operative to hold said main valve in open position.

6. A valve device comprising a casing having and outlet passageways, a valve port therebetween, a main valve for closing said port, a pressure chamber, a restricted passageway connecting said inlet passageway with said pressure chamber, said main valve being Responsive to the pressure conditions in said inlet passageway and in said pressure chamber, a by-pass in said main valve for placing said pressure chamber in communication with said outlet passageway, a by-pass valve in said main valve controlling said bypass, electromagnetic means for operating said valve device comprising a solenoid armature, means connecting said armature with said by-pass valve and operative to move the latter to open position with respect to said by-pass. and cooperating shoulders associated with said by-pass valve and said main valve whereby the operative movement of said armature is efiective to transmit a mechanicalv force tending to open said main valve and whereby said armature is operative to mechanically hold said main valve in open position.

7. A valve device comprising a casing hav ing inlet and outlet passageways, avalve port therebetween, a main valve for controlling said port, a chamber communicating with one of said passageways, said main valve being responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for venting said chamber, a secondary valve controlling said by-pass, electromagnetic means for operating said valve device comprising an armature, and means connecting said armature with said secondary valve and with said main valve where.-

by said armaturev is operative to transmit mechanical force to both of said valves for controlling the latter.

8. A valve device comprising a casing hav ing inlet and outlet passageways, a valve port therebetween, a valve for closing said port, a chamber communicating with one of said passageways, said valve having a piston portion operating in said chamber, the adjacent walls of said piston portion and of said chamber having a taperedrelation, said valve be ing responsivmto the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for venting 'said chamber,'and electrically operatedmeans for controlling said by-pass.

9. A valve device comprising a casing havnular wall of said chamber, one of said walls being tapered, a by-pass for placing, said chamber in communication with the other of said passageways, a by-pass valve controlling said by-pass, and electromagnetic valve operating means comprising an armature opera-.

tively connected with said by-pass valve to control said by-pass.

10. A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways, a valve port therebetween, a main valve for closing said port, a pressure chamber, said main valve comprising a piston portion extending into said pressure chamber, the annular wall of said piston portion being normally slightly spaced from the annular wall of said pressure chamber and defining a leakage passageway therebetween for placing said pressure cham her in communication with said inlet passageway, one of said annular walls being tapered longitudinally whereby the restricted space between said walls increases in size as the piston portion moves further into said pressure chamber, a by-pass for placing said pressure chamber in communication with said outlet passageway, a'by-pass valve controlling said bypass, and electromagnetic valve operating means comprising a solenoid armature operatively connected with said by-pass valve for opening said by-pass.

11...A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways, a valve ort therebetween, a'pressure chamber exten ing upwardly from said inlet passageway in alignment with said valve port, a main valve for closing said port, said valve comprising a piston portion extending up into said pres-- sure chamber, the annular wall of said piston portion being spaced from the annular wall of said pressure chamber to define a leakage passageway for admitting fluid pressure from means between said armature and said valves whereby said armature is operative to open said by-pass valve and to exert mechanical 1 force on said mainvalve for moving the latter to open position.

erated by-pass valve, said secondary valve functioning as a safety valve by opening said by-pass when excessive pressures arise in said chamber, and electrically operated means op- .eratively connected with said secondary valve for opening said by-pass.

13. A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways, a valve port therebetween, a main valve for closing said port, a chamber communicating with one of said passageways, said main valve being responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for placing said chamber in communication with the other of said passageways, a secondary valve controlling said by-pass, means normally tending to hold said secondary valve closed but permitting the opening thereof when the pressure in said chamber rises above a predetermined point whereby said secondary valve functions as a safety valve, and electrically operated means foropening said secondary valve.

14. A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways, I a valve port therebetween, a main valve for closing said port, a pressure chamber communicating with said inlet passageway, said main valve being responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for placing said pressure chamber in communication with said outlet passageway, a secondary valve controlling said by-pas's, spring means normally tending to hold said secondary valve closed but permitting the opening thereof when the pressure in said pressure chamberrise sabove a predetermined maximum whereby saidsecondary valve functlons as a safety valve, and electro-magnetic means for oper ating said valve device, comp i i a noid armature operatively connected to open said secondary valve.

15. A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways,.a valve port therebetween, valve mechanism comprising a main valve and a by-pass valve, said main valve being adapted to close said port,'a chamber communicating with one of said passageways, said main valve being responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a ,by-pass for placing said chamber communication with the other of said passageways, said by-pass valve controllin'gsaid bypass, electromagnetic. me'ansfor operating said valve mechanism comprising an armature operatively conect'ed with said by-pass valve, and manually operated means cooperating with said valve mechanism for holding said valve port closed.

16. 'A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways, a valve port therebetween, a main valve for closing said port, a pressure chamber communicating with said inlet passageway, said main valve being responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for placing said pressure chamber in communication with said outlet passageway, a by-pass valve controlling said by-pass and adapted to engage with .said main valve, electromagnetic means for operating said valve device comprising a shif'tablecore member, a solenoid armature adapted to be attracted toward said core member, means operatively connecting said armature with said by-pass valve, and means operable to shift said core member into engagement with said armature when the latter is in its nonattracted position whereby to positively hold said main valve in closed position.

17. A valve device comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passageways, a valve port therebetween, a main valve for closing said port, a chamber communicating with one of said passageways, said main valve being responsive to the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for placing said chamber in communication with the other of said passageways, a secondary valve controlling said 'by-pass, said secondary valve functioning as a safety valve by opening said by-pass when excessive pressures arise in one of said passageways, electrically operated means operatively connected with said secondary valve for openingsaid by-pass, and manually operated means cooperating with said main valve for positively holding said main valve in closed position.

18. A valve port therebetween, valve mechanism comprising a main valve and a by-pass valve, said main valve being adapted to close said port, a chamber communicating with one of said passageways, said main valve being responsiveto the pressure condition in said chamber, a by-pass for placing said chamber in communication with the other of said passageways, said by-pass .alve controlling said bypass, and electromagnetic means for operating said valve mechanism comprising a metallic sleeve joined with said casing and hermetically sealed from the atmosphere, a solenoid armature adapted to reciprocate in said sleeve and .to impa'rt motion to said bypass valve,

a magnetic winding disposed outside of said sleeve and creating a flux for actuating said arm'aturefsaidslee've being composed of carbon, manganese, silicon, sulphur, phosphorus, chromium and nickel in approximately the device comprising a casing having 1nlet and outlet passageways, a valveproportions stated whereby said sleeve is substantially non-magnetic, is characterized. by high electrical resistance, and is substantially non-corrosive to chemical reaction from re frigerants and the like.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this first day of March, 1930.

JOHN R. BOYLE. 

